RFID Healthcare: Automated Patient-Fall Detection Using Sonitor Technologies Ultrasound Positioning/Tracking Technology To Be Demonstrated At HIMSS Conference In Orlando
Sonitor Technologies, Inc., the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of a proprietary ultrasound Indoor Positioning System (IPS) and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), recently announced that it will demonstrate the Automated Patient Fall Detection capabilities of its patented ultrasound positioning/tracking technology at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2008 Conference, held at the Orange County Convention Center on February 24 – 28 in Orlando, Florida. Sonitor will be exhibiting its new releases in Booth# 3815.
The Sonitor fall detection capabilities are comprised of the same proven ultrasound positioning technology which is used to establish reliable tag location with 100% room, bed or sub-room level accuracy. In the event of a patient fall, an active Sonitor patient wristband tag located in a pre-defined zone close to floor level, such as next to the bed, will be detected. Through software algorithms, alerts will then be communicated to caregivers who can initiate immediate response to the injured patient.
"We believe that the Fall Detection capabilities of the Sonitor technology will be a much appreciated addition to the more common RTLS functionalities for our Healthcare customers" Terry Aasen, Sonitor Technologies, Inc's CEO commented. "The patient fall detection capability adds an important ROI element to an RTLS deployment, and to our knowledge Sonitor is the only RTLS technology provider whose technology is suitable for this important functionality" he added.
According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, patient falls in medical/surgical units happen at a rate of over 3.6 falls per 1000 in-patient days. The risk of a fall is especially prevalent among people age 65 and older, for whom falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
The Center for Disease Control estimates that the total direct cost for falls among older adults in 2000 was about $19B. Given the growing population of this age group, this cost is expected to reach $43.8B by 2020. The negative consequences of falls, and particularly falls which are not responded to in a timely manner, lead to unnecessary deaths, medical complications and hundreds of millions lost in liability lawsuits every year.
See a demonstration of the Sonitor Fall Detection technology and the 100% reliable room- and bed-level location accuracy of the Sonitor ultrasound Indoor Positioning System at Sonitor Technologies' booth 3815 at HIMSS, February 21-24, in Orlando.
About Sonitor Technologies, Inc.
Sonitor Technologies is the developer, manufacturer and supplier of a proprietary ultrasound indoor positioning system (IPS) that automatically tracks with reliable 100% room-level or better accuracy the real-time location of moveable equipment and people in complex indoor environments, such as hospitals. Sonitor Technologies' RTLS technology is designed for seamless integration with third party software and integration solutions. Sonitor Technologies was founded in Norway in 1997. To learn more about Sonitor Technologies and its ultrasound IPS, please visit the corporate website at www.sonitor.com.
SOURCE: Sonitor Technologies Inc.